2 Dariusiiiki:, Imf^hniotts from the Kentish Phiicau. 



Apparent!}- the elevated chalk and its ccu'cring beds 

 were subjected tc^ eiiorniDus ileiuidaticm, and, within the 

 space between the present chalk escarpments, norlh and 

 south, a vast excavation took place foimini;- the i;reat 

 valU-y of the Kentish Weakl. 



Tlu' ai^enc)' of such chan;^i^s may l)e sup[ioscd to have 

 been the wastint;" tlej^radation and remcn^al, and at last a 

 certain redisposition. In' means of river-llow, possibly in 

 former times vastly greater than at present. Those 

 antecedent rivers, now represented by the Thames, the 

 Mcdway, the Darc-nt, and others, swept down, aLje 

 after aqe, more and more dSris, each succeedini^' 

 dejiosit i)resentini;- outw.ish from preceding;- ones, mixed 

 up with its (Mvn peculiar mass. 



The occurrence upon the denuded chalk t^f a threat 

 bed of drift material, mostl\' of a reddish clay with some 

 sand}' infusion, bespeaks in itself in part the ajrency of 

 mii^ht}' iirecedini; mo\ements of water weariiiL;" tlown the 

 raised strata anil leaxiuL;; its characteristic " river-gravel," 

 though now we cannot trace the beds of such streams. 



As is usual, these recent strata are characterised b}- 

 their fo.ssils, parth^ of animals no longer existing here or 

 elsewhere, or of others still reiiresented amongst us. 

 So far, 1 beliexe, no remains t)r animals ha\e occurred in 

 this earliest drift. 



The strata are also often distinguishable b\- the general 

 characters of separate beds. Hut with regard to nearl}' 

 all these river-gravels, there is a remarkable line of ver\ 

 peculiar fossils, showing distincti}- the hani.liwi)rk of man, 

 couunonK- called stone implcMnents. These constitute 

 the onl}- remains that Man's earliest intellect anil skill 

 ha\e pre[iaietl aiul left U^ \\^. 



All are jnimaril}- markeil, as ha\ing been shaped by 

 what is called " chipping," and exhibit \ar}ing designs 



